Loose leaf binder



LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Oct. 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 6, 1940. E. A. KOELLING LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Oct. 15, 1938 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 m w r e L. 0 Z T /0 T MK ,4

Patented Aug. 6, 194a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 2,210,488 LOOSE LEAF BINDER Edward A. Koelling, St. Louis, Mo.

Application October 15,

6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to loose leaf binders of the type in which certain prongs are movable longitudinally of the binder for the purpose of disposing sheets in different positions 5,; longitudinally of the binder, and more particularlyto a locking and longitudinal shifting mechanism for maintaining the binder in its several operative positions and for permitting the longitudinal movement of certain binder prongs in 1101. one or more of such defined positions,

An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism for looking a loose leaf binder in several positions and for permitting shifting of certain prongs relative to other prongs when lg the binder is in one or more of said positions.

Another object is to provide an improved novel locking mechanism for loose leaf binders.

, Another object is to provide an improved novel prong-shifting mechanism for loose leaf binders. Another object is to provide a locking mech-' anism which is adapted to hold a loose leaf binder in closed position, and which is adapted to define one or more semi-opened positions.

Another object is to provide a loose leaf binder of the prong-shifting type in which the central hinge is utilized as a shifting axis.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for loose leaf binders of the type in which certain prongs are shifted longitudinally of the binder which looks the prongs in closed non-shiftable position, and which looks or stops the prongs in partially opened shiftable relation.

Another object is to provide a sturdy, inexpensive, and simplified locking and shifting mecha-.

nism for loose leaf binders of the type in which certain prongs are shiftable longitudinally of the binder.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a loose leaf binder of the type in which certain prongs are shifted longitudinally 'of the binder relative to other prongs, a portion of one cover being broken away to disclose the type of sheets employed in such binders;

Fig. 2 is an end View of the binder shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the case being broken away to disclose features of the present invention as embodied in such binder;

Fig. 3 is a view of the binder shown in Fig. 1 showing the prongs in closed relation, the backs being spread open and broken away for conservation of space;

} 4 is a View of the binder shown in Fig.

1938, Serial No. 235,126 (Cl. 12917') similar to Fig. 3 showing the prongs in partially spread disposition, parts of the case being broken away to disclose features of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a view similarto Fig. 4 showing the right-hand series of prongs shifted upwardly relative to the left-hand series of prongs;

Fig. 6 is a view of the binder shown in Fig. 1 similar to those of Figs. 3 and 4 showing the prongs in fully opened position, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate details of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line l-'! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing details of the locking mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8; and,

Fig. 10 is a fragment of a modified latch.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals. Ill indicates generally a loose leaf binder of the prong-shifting type in which is incorporated the teachings of the present invention. The binder It) includes a hinge construction H, a front cover l2, and a, rear cover I 3. i

The hinge construction H comprises a lefthand section l4 and a right-hand section [5 which are pivotally connected by a sectional hinge shaft 11 (Fig. 5) which includes hinge shaft segments I 8 and I9. The shaft I! may be integral, if desired.

The hinge section M includes a plate 211 which is folded to provide a central side 2|, two sides 22 and 23 oppositely extending from the central side M (Fig. 7), they latter of which includes spaced looped segments 24 .to receive the sectional hinge shaft H, and end segments 25. A plate 2 5 is fixed to the plate 2|], one side 21 thereof being welded or otherwise connected to the side 22 of the aforesaid plate 20. An angularly disposed side 28 of theplate 26 opposes the centrally disposed side 2| of the plate 20 to form, in effect, a box (Fig. 7). The side 21 includes spaced looped segments 30 which receive a hinge shaft 3!. Spaced looped segments 33 of a plate 34 are interspaced with the looped segments 30. The cover I2 is fixed by means of rivets 35, or the like, to the plate 34. A strip 31 is welded or otherwise fixed in contiguous relation to the side 22. Evenly spaced arcuate prongs 38 are welded or otherwise fixed to the strip 31. Elongated apertures 39. are located in the strip 31 between the prongs 38 for the purpose of receiving the ends of prongs which will be described as part of the hinge section l5.

The right-hand hinge section I includes a plate 48 which is folded to provide a central side 4I, two sides 42 and 43 oppositely extending from the central side M (Fig. '7), the latter of which includes spaced looped segments 44 to receive the sectional hinge shaft I1, and end segments 45 (Fig. 2). A plate 46 is fixed to the plate 48, one side 41 thereof being welded or otherwise connected to the side 42 of the afore said plate 48. An angularly disposed side 48 of the plate 48 opposes the centrally disposed side 4| of the plate 48 to form, in efiect, a box (Fig. '7). The side 47 includes spaced looped segments 58 which receive a hinge shaft 5|. Spaced looped segments 53 of a plate 54 are interspaced with the looped segments 58. The cover I3 is fixed by means of rivets 55, or the like, to the plate 54. A strip 57 is welded or otherwise fixed in contiguous relation to the side 42. Evenly spaced arcuate prongs 58 are welded or otherwise fixed to the strip 51. Elongated apertures 59 are located in the strip 51 between the prongs 58 for the purpose of receiving the ends of the prongs 88 forming a part of the hinge section I4.

The hinge section I5 is adapted to be moved relative to the hinge section I4 longitudinally of the hinge shaft H. The looped segments 44 are of a predetermined less width than the looped segments 24, although the space allowed for the looped segments 44 is equal to the width of the looped segments 24. The shifting space may be obtained by increasing the spaces between the looped segments 24 and increasing the looped segments 44 to equal the looped segments 24. The hinge shaft segment I8 is fixed relative to the looped segments 24 while the short hinge shaft segment I 9 is fixed relative to a small looped segment 44 (Fig. 5). It is apparent from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 5 that the hinge section I5 can, therefore, be moved relative to the hinge segment I4 longitudinally from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and return.

' A locking mechanism 88 is provided whereby the hinge sections I4 and I5 can be locked in the closed relation shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or restrained in the partially opened relation of Figs. 4, 5, and '7, or can be fully released to the position shown in Fig. 6. The base 84 of a bracket 65 (Figs. '7, 8, and 9) is fixed to the underside of the side All of the plate 48. A right-angular extension 68 of the bracket, 65 is spaced from the inner side of. the side 43, the extension 68 terminating in a lip 87 which substantially contacts the side 43. The bracket 65 is interiorly cut away at 68, part of the cut-away 88 lying in the base 64 and part in the extension 86, the cut-away being bounded on one side by a narrow strip I8 and on the other side by a narrow strip II. The narrow strip II is disposed out of the plane of the base 64 and extension 68 in substantially arcuate configuration for a purpose to be described (Fig. 7).

a A latch I3 is fixed to the underside of the side 2| and extends through a slot I4 (Figs. 5 and '7) in the side 23. The latch I3 includes an arcuate free section I5 contiguous to the outer end of which is an elongated slot I6 and an extension II having a shoulder I8. The latch I3 also in.- cludes an internally disposed shoulder I9 (Fi 5).

f'fAtrigger or release member 88 (Figs. 2 and 6) extends along the interior face of the side 43 and through a notch 8! in the end 45 to terminate in a right-angular extension 82. The trigger member 88 extends beneath the extension 86 of the bracket 85 and is cut away at 83 to clear the latch member I3 and to provide an edge 84 which is adapted to engage one or the other of the shoulders I8 and I8. A stop 85 (Fig. 8) struck upwardly from the trigger member 80 limits the downward movement of the trigger member 88 by its engagement with the edge of the extension 66. A helical spring 88 under tension extends between a projection 81 struck up from the base 64 and a projection 88 struck up from the tripper member 88 and biases the trig? ger member 88 into latching position.

In Fig. is shown a modified latch I3 which differs from the latch I3 in having a notch 89 instead of a shoulder I8. The notch 89 cooperates with the edge 84 of the trigger member 80 to positively lock the hinge sections I4 and IS in the positions shown in Fig. 4.

Operation The present loose leaf binder I8 is adapted'to hold short leaves 98 in spaced relation so that a line or two of legend is visible at the bottom. It is constructed to permit the insertion of a new sheet at any desired point and to permit the subsequent lowering of those sheets beneath the inserted sheet, or the raising of those sheets above the inserted sheet, to maintain the same spacing. This general principle of. shifting one series of prongs of a book binder relative to another-series of prongs is'well-known; but heretofore the central hinge has not always'been employed as the axis of shift. Further, a plurality of locking means has been required in previous constructions.

Assume that a new sheet is to be inserted in the place now occupied by the sheet designated A in Fig. 3. With the binder. It in the position shown in Fig. 3, sheet A and those on top of. sheet A are flipped to the right so that they rest upon the rear cover I 3. The extension 82 is pressed inwardly to move the edge 84 out of engagement with the shoulder I9. This permits the hinge sections I4 and I5 to pivot around the hinge shaft II. Pressure is maintained on the extension 82 until the hinge sections I4 and I5 substantially reach a fully open relationship, such as is shown by Fig. 6, after which the pressure is released. A new sheet is inserted in the position formerly occupied by sheet A. The hinge sections I4 and I5 are then closed to the partially open position shown by Fig. 4, a position defined by the engagement of the shoulder I8 with the edge 84 of the trigger member 88, as is evident from an inspection of Fig. 4. With the hinge sections I4 and I5 in the position of Fig. 4, sheet A and the sheets below it are flipped back onto hinge section I4. Hinge section I5 is then moved relative to hinge section l4 into the position shown by Fig. 5. Sheet A and those sheets on top of it are flipped over onto hinge section I5, after which hinge section I5 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 4. Sheet A and the sheets below it are flipped back to hinge section I4 and the just-specified process is repeated if it is required that the sheets be two holes apart, as is shown by the drawings, for the shifting action accomplishes a one-hole movement only.

It is to be observed that the slot I6 engages the side 43 in the shifting movement of the hinge section I5. This engagement takes place before release of the shoulder 'I8 from the edge 84 so that a second locking mechanism is unnecessary. Further, it is to be observed that the latch mechanism 63 is effective to lock the hinge sections l4 and I5 in the closed position of Fig. 3, or in the partially open position of Fig. 4. This simplified construction obviates the use of more than the one latch mechanism. It is, of course, to be understood that spaced latches may be used on large binders which are simultaneously operated by the same trigger member.

It is, of course, apparent that certain details of construction may be varied without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is manifest that there has been described a book binder mechanism which fulfills all of the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example and not for purposes of limitation, the invention being limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a hinge shaft, hinge sections pivotally mounted on said shaft by means permitting movement of one section relative to the other section along the shaft, means for pre-- venting pivotal movement of said sections beyond a predetermined partially opened relation, and means for positively maintaining said sections in said partially opened relation during shifting of said one section relative to said other section, said second means comprising a portion of said first means.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a hinge shaft, hinge sections pivotally mounted on said shaft by means permitting movement of one section relative to the other section along the shaft, a latch fixed to one hinge section including a shoulder, and a releasable latch engaging member movably connected to the other hinge section, said shoulder being adapted to contact said releasable latch engaging member to prevent pivotal movement of said hinge sections beyond a predetermined opened relation, said latch also including an elongated slot adapted to engage the movable hinge section to permit a shifting of said movable hinge section in the predetermined partially opened relation.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a hinge shaft, cooperatively disposed hinge sections pivotally mounted on said shaft, one of said sections being other section, means for locking said sections in closed relation, means for preventing movement of said sections beyond a predetermined partially opened relation, and means positively maintaining their relative opened positions during movement of one hinge section relative to the other hinge section along the hinge shaft as an axis of movement when said sections are in said partially opened relation, said three means including as a common element a latch member.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a hinge shaft, 00-

operatively disposed hinge sections pivotally mounted on said shaft, one of said sections being movable longitudinally of the shaft relative to the other section, means for locking said sections in closed relation, means for preventing movement of said sections beyond a predetermined partially opened relation, and means positively maintaining their relative opened positions dur-- ing movement of'one hinge section relative to the other hinge section along the hinge shaft as an axis of movement when said sections are in said partially opened relation, said three means including as a common element a latch member having two spaced shoulders and an elongated slot.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a hinge shaft, cooperatively disposed hinge sections pivotally mounted on said shaft, means for locking said sections in closed relation, means for locking said sections in a predetermined partially opened relation,-

and means positively maintaining their relative opened positions during movement of one hinge section relative to the other hinge section along the hinge shaft as an axis of movement when said sections are in said partially opened relation.

EDWARD A. KOELLING. 

